Habakkuk 1:1 - Zechariah 10:12 (The Message)

Habakkuk 1 - Zechariah 10

Justice Is a Joke

1 1-4 The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:

GOD, how long do I have to cry out for help

before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!”

before you come to the rescue? Why do you force me to look at evil,

stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out,

quarrels and fights all over the place.

Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke.

The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head.

God Says, “Look!”

5-11 “Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock.

Something’s about to take place and you’re going to find it hard to believe.

I’m about to raise up Babylonians to punish you, Babylonians, fierce and ferocious—

World-conquering Babylon, grabbing up nations right and left,

A dreadful and terrible people, making up its own rules as it goes.

Their horses run like the wind, attack like bloodthirsty wolves.

A stampede of galloping horses

thunders out of nowhere. They descend like vultures

circling in on carrion. They’re out to kill. Death is on their minds.

They collect victims like squirrels gathering nuts. They mock kings,

poke fun at generals, Spit on forts,

and leave them in the dust.

They’ll all be blown away by the wind. Brazen in sin, they call strength their god.”

Why Is God Silent Now?

12-13 GOD, you’re from eternity, aren’t you? Holy God, we aren’t going to die, are we?

GOD, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work? Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline?

But you can’t be serious! You can’t condone evil!

So why don’t you do something about this? Why are you silent now?

This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous and you stand around and watch! 14-16 You’re treating men and women as so many fish in the ocean,

Swimming without direction, swimming but not getting anywhere.

Then this evil Babylonian arrives and goes fishing.

He pulls in a good catch. He catches his limit and fills his creel—

a good day of fishing! He’s happy! He praises his rod and reel,

piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it! It’s made his day,

and he’s going to eat well tonight! 17 Are you going to let this go on and on?

Will you let this Babylonian fisherman Fish like a weekend angler,

killing people as if they’re nothing but fish?

2 What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst.

I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.

I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint.

Full of Self, but Soul-Empty

2-3 And then GOD answered: “Write this. Write what you see.

Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.

This vision-message is a witness

pointing to what’s coming.

It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie.

If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time. 4 “Look at that man, bloated by self-importance— full of himself but soul-empty.

But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing

is fully alive, really alive. 5-6 “Note well: Money deceives.

The arrogant rich don’t last. They are more hungry for wealth

than the grave is for cadavers. Like death, they always want more,

but the ‘more’ they get is dead bodies.

They are cemeteries filled with dead nations, graveyards filled with corpses.

Don’t give people like this a second thought. Soon the whole world will be taunting them: 6-8 “‘Who do you think you are— getting rich by stealing and extortion?

How long do you think you can get away with this?’

Indeed, how long before your victims wake up, stand up and make you the victim?

You’ve plundered nation after nation. Now you’ll get a taste of your own medicine.

All the survivors are out to plunder you, a payback for all your murders and massacres. 9-11 “Who do you think you are—

recklessly grabbing and looting, Living it up, acting like king of the mountain,

acting above it all, above trials and troubles? You’ve engineered the ruin of your own house.

In ruining others you’ve ruined yourself. You’ve undermined your foundations,

rotted out your own soul. The bricks of your house will speak up and accuse you.

The woodwork will step forward with evidence. 12-14 “Who do you think you are—

building a town by murder, a city with crime? Don’t you know that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies

makes sure nothing comes of that but ashes,

Makes sure the harder you work

at that kind of thing, the less you are? Meanwhile the earth fills up

with awareness of GOD’s glory as the waters cover the sea. 15-17 “Who do you think you are— inviting your neighbors to your drunken parties,

Giving them too much to drink, roping them into your sexual orgies?

You thought you were having the time of your life. Wrong! It’s a time of disgrace.

All the time you were drinking, you were drinking from the cup of God’s wrath.

You’ll wake up holding your throbbing head, hung over— hung over from Lebanon violence,

Hung over from animal massacres,

hung over from murder and mayhem, From multiple violations

of place and people. 18-19 “What’s the use of a carved god

so skillfully carved by its sculptor? What good is a fancy cast god

when all it tells is lies? What sense does it make to be a pious god-maker

who makes gods that can’t even talk? Who do you think you are—

saying to a stick of wood, ‘Wake up,’ Or to a dumb stone, ‘Get up’?

Can they teach you anything about anything? There’s nothing to them but surface.

There’s nothing on the inside. 20 “But oh! GOD is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!”

God Racing on the Crest of the Waves

3 1-2 A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk, with orchestra:

GOD, I’ve heard what our ancestors say about you,

and I’m stopped in my tracks, down on my knees. Do among us what you did among them.

Work among us as you worked among them. And as you bring judgment, as you surely must,

remember mercy.

3-7 God’s on his way again,

retracing the old salvation route, Coming up from the south through Teman,

the Holy One from Mount Paran. Skies are blazing with his splendor,

his praises sounding through the earth, His cloud-brightness like dawn, exploding, spreading,

forked-lightning shooting from his hand— what power hidden in that fist!

Plague marches before him, pestilence at his heels!

He stops. He shakes Earth. He looks around. Nations tremble.

The age-old mountains fall to pieces; ancient hills collapse like a spent balloon.

The paths God takes are older

than the oldest mountains and hills. I saw everyone worried, in a panic:

Old wilderness adversaries, Cushan and Midian, were terrified,

hoping he wouldn’t notice them. 8-16 GOD, is it River you’re mad at?

Angry at old River? Were you raging at Sea when you rode

horse and chariot through to salvation? You unfurled your bow

and let loose a volley of arrows. You split Earth with rivers.

Mountains saw what was coming. They twisted in pain.

Flood Waters poured in.

Ocean roared and reared huge waves. Sun and Moon stopped in their tracks.

Your flashing arrows stopped them, your lightning-strike spears impaled them.

Angry, you stomped through Earth. Furious, you crushed the godless nations.

You were out to save your people, to save your specially chosen people.

You beat the stuffing out of King Wicked,

Stripped him naked from head to toe,

Set his severed head on his own spear

and blew away his army.

Scattered they were to the four winds— and ended up food for the sharks!

You galloped through the Sea on your horses, racing on the crest of the waves.

When I heard it, my stomach did flips. I stammered and stuttered.

My bones turned to water. I staggered and stumbled.

I sit back and wait for Doomsday to descend on our attackers. 17-19 Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen,

Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,

Though the sheep pens are sheepless

and the cattle barns empty, I’m singing joyful praise to GOD.

I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on GOD’s Rule to prevail,

I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer.

I feel like I’m king of the mountain!

(For congregational use, with a full orchestra.)

No Longer Giving God a Thought or a Prayer

1 GOD’s Message to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of

Amariah, son of Hezekiah. It came during the reign of Josiah son of Amon, who was king of Judah:

2 “I’m going to make a clean sweep of the earth,

a thorough housecleaning.” GOD’s Decree. 3 “Men and women and animals,

including birds and fish—

Anything and everything that causes sin—will go, but especially people. 4-6 “I’ll start with Judah and everybody who lives in Jerusalem.

I’ll sweep the place clean of every trace of the sex-and-religion Baal shrines and their priests.

I’ll get rid of the people who sneak up to their rooftops at night to worship the star gods and goddesses;

Also those who continue to worship GOD

but cover their bases by worshiping other king-gods as well; Not to mention those who’ve dumped GOD altogether,

no longer giving him a thought or offering a prayer. 7-13 “Quiet now!

Reverent silence before me, GOD, the Master! Time’s up. My Judgment Day is near:

The Holy Day is all set, the invited guests made holy. On the Holy Day, GOD’s Judgment Day,

I will punish the leaders and the royal sons; I will punish those who dress up like foreign priests and priestesses,

Who introduce pagan prayers and practices; And I’ll punish all who import pagan superstitions

that turn holy places into hellholes. Judgment Day!” GOD’s Decree!

“Cries of panic from the city’s Fish Gate,

Cries of terror from the city’s Second Quarter, sounds of great crashing from the hills!

Wail, you shopkeepers on Market Street! Moneymaking has had its day. The god Money is dead.

On Judgment Day, I’ll search through every closet and alley in Jerusalem.

I’ll find and punish those who are sitting it out, fat and lazy, amusing themselves and taking it easy,

Who think, ‘GOD doesn’t do anything, good or bad. He isn’t involved, so neither are we.’

But just wait. They’ll lose everything they have, money and house and land.

They’ll build a house and never move in. They’ll plant vineyards and never taste the wine.

A Day of Darkness at Noon

14-18 “The Great Judgment Day of GOD is almost here. It’s countdown time: . . . seven, six, five, four . . .

Bitter and noisy cries on my Judgment Day,

even strong men screaming for help. Judgment Day is payday—my anger paid out:

a day of distress and anguish, a day of catastrophic doom,

a day of darkness at noon, a day of black storm clouds,

a day of bloodcurdling war cries, as forts are assaulted,

as defenses are smashed.

I’ll make things so bad they won’t know what hit them. They’ll walk around groping like the blind.

They’ve sinned against GOD! Their blood will be poured out like old dishwater,

their guts shoveled into slop buckets. Don’t plan on buying your way out.

Your money is worthless for this. This is the Day of GOD’s Judgment—my wrath!

I care about sin with fiery passion— A fire to burn up the corrupted world,

a wildfire finish to the corrupting people.”

Seek God

2 1-2 So get yourselves together. Shape up!

You’re a nation without a clue about what it wants.

Do it before you’re blown away like leaves in a windstorm,

Before GOD’s Judgment-anger sweeps down on you,

Before GOD’s Judgment Day wrath descends with full force. 3 Seek GOD, all you quietly disciplined people

who live by GOD’s justice. Seek GOD’s right ways. Seek a quiet and disciplined life.

Perhaps you’ll be hidden on the Day of GOD’s anger.

All Earth-Made Gods Will Blow Away

4-5 Gaza is scheduled for demolition,

Ashdod will be cleaned out by high noon, Ekron pulled out by the roots.

Doom to the seaside people, the seafaring people from Crete!

The Word of GOD is bad news for you who settled Canaan, the Philistine country:

“You’re slated for destruction— no survivors!” 6-7 The lands of the seafarers will become pastureland,

A country for shepherds and sheep. What’s left of the family of Judah will get it.

Day after day they’ll pasture by the sea,

and go home in the evening to Ashkelon to sleep.

Their very own GOD will look out for them. He’ll make things as good as before. 8-12 “I’ve heard the crude taunts of Moab, the mockeries flung by Ammon,

The cruel talk they’ve used to put down my people, their self-important strutting along Israel’s borders.

Therefore, as sure as I am the living God,” says GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies,

Israel’s personal God, “Moab will become a ruin like Sodom,

Ammon a ghost town like Gomorrah, One a field of rocks, the other a sterile salt flat,

a moonscape forever. What’s left of my people will finish them off,

will pick them clean and take over.

This is what they get for their bloated pride, their taunts and mockeries of the people

of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. GOD will be seen as truly terrible—a Holy Terror.

All earth-made gods will shrivel up and blow away; And everyone, wherever they are, far or near,

will fall to the ground and worship him. Also you Ethiopians,

you, too, will die—I’ll see to it.” 13-15 Then GOD will reach into the north

and destroy Assyria. He will waste Nineveh,

leave her dry and treeless as a desert. The ghost town of a city,

the haunt of wild animals,

Nineveh will be home to raccoons and coyotes— they’ll bed down in its ruins.

Owls will hoot in the windows, ravens will croak in the doorways— all that fancy woodwork now a perch for birds.

Can this be the famous Fun City that had it made,

That boasted, “I’m the Number-One City! I’m King of the Mountain!”

So why is the place deserted, a lair for wild animals?

Passersby hardly give it a look; they dismiss it with a gesture.

Sewer City

3 1-5 Doom to the rebellious city,

the home of oppressors—Sewer City!

The city that wouldn’t take advice, wouldn’t accept correction,

Wouldn’t trust GOD, wouldn’t even get close to her own god!

Her very own leaders are rapacious lions,

Her judges are rapacious timber wolves out every morning prowling for a fresh kill.

Her prophets are out for what they can get.

They’re opportunists—you can’t trust them. Her priests desecrate the Sanctuary.

They use God’s law as a weapon to maim and kill souls. Yet GOD remains righteous in her midst,

untouched by the evil. He stays at it, day after day, meting out justice.

At evening he’s still at it, strong as ever. But evil men and women, without conscience

and without shame, persist in evil. 6 “So I cut off the godless nations.

I knocked down their defense posts, Filled her roads with rubble

so no one could get through. Her cities were bombed-out ruins,

unlivable and unlived in. 7 “I thought, ‘Surely she’ll honor me now, accept my discipline and correction,

Find a way of escape from the trouble she’s in, find relief from the punishment I’m bringing.’

But it didn’t faze her. Bright and early she was up at it again, doing the same old things. 8 “Well, if that’s what you want, stick around.” GOD’s Decree.

“Your day in court is coming, but remember I’ll be there to bring evidence.

I’ll bring all the nations to the courtroom, round up all the kingdoms,

And let them feel the brunt of my anger, my raging wrath.

My zeal is a fire

that will purge and purify the earth.

God Is in Charge at the Center

9-13 “In the end I will turn things around for the people.

I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, Words to address GOD in worship

and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel. They’ll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers,

they’ll come praying— All my scattered, exiled people

will come home with offerings for worship.

You’ll no longer have to be ashamed of all those acts of rebellion.

I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders. No more pious strutting on my holy hill!

I’ll leave a core of people among you who are poor in spirit—

What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel. They’ll make their home in GOD.

This core holy people will not do wrong.

They won’t lie, won’t use words to flatter or seduce.

Content with who they are and where they are, unanxious, they’ll live at peace.” 14-15 So sing, Daughter Zion!

Raise the rafters, Israel! Daughter Jerusalem,

be happy! celebrate! GOD has reversed his judgments against you

and sent your enemies off chasing their tails. From now on, GOD is Israel’s king,

in charge at the center. There’s nothing to fear from evil

ever again!

God Is Present Among You

16-17 Jerusalem will be told:

“Don’t be afraid. Dear Zion,

don’t despair. Your GOD is present among you,

a strong Warrior there to save you.

Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love

and delight you with his songs. 18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exile

will dissipate. I, your God, will get rid of them for you.

You’ve carried those burdens long enough. At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those

who’ve made your life miserable. I’ll heal the maimed;

I’ll bring home the homeless. In the very countries where they were hated

they will be venerated. On Judgment Day

I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering! You’ll be famous and honored

all over the world.

You’ll see it with your own eyes— all those painful partings turned into reunions!”

GOD’s Promise.

Caught Up with Taking Care of Your Own Houses

1 On the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of King

Darius of Persia, GOD’s Message was delivered by the prophet Haggai to the

governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak:

2 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: “The people procrastinate. They

say this isn’t the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of GOD.”

3-4 Shortly after that, GOD said more and Haggai spoke it: “How is it that it’s

the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, GOD’s Temple, is in ruins?”

5-6 And then a little later, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again:

“Take a good, hard look at your life.

Think it over.

You have spent a lot of money, but you haven’t much to show for it.

You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up.

You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you’re always thirsty.

You put on layer after layer of clothes,

but you can’t get warm. And the people who work for you,

what are they getting out of it? Not much—

a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that’s what.

7 That’s why GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said:

“Take a good, hard look at your life.

Think it over.”

8-9 Then GOD said:

“Here’s what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber.

Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me.

You’ve had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it.

The little you have brought to my Temple I’ve blown away—there was nothing to it.

9-11 “And why?” (This is a Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of

your own houses, my Home is in ruins. That’s why. Because of your

stinginess. And so I’ve given you a dry summer and a skimpy crop. I’ve matched your tight-fisted stinginess by decreeing a season of drought,

drying up fields and hills, withering gardens and orchards, stunting vegetables and fruit. Nothing—not man or woman, not animal or crop—is

going to thrive.”

12 Then the governor, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak, and all the people with them listened, really

listened, to the voice of their GOD. When GOD sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honored GOD.

13 Then Haggai, GOD’s messenger, preached GOD’s Message to the people: “I am with you!” GOD’s Word.

14-15 This is how GOD got Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people moving—got

them working on the Temple of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. This happened on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

This Temple Will End Up Better Than It Started Out

2 1-3 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of GOD came

through the prophet Haggai: “Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the people: ‘Is there anyone

here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do

you see now? Not much, right?

4-5 “‘So get to work, Zerubbabel!’—GOD is speaking.

“‘Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!’

“‘Get to work, all you people!’—GOD is speaking.

“‘Yes, get to work! For I am with you.’ The GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies is

speaking! ‘Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t

hold back.’

6-7 “This is what GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said: ‘Before you know it, I will

shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with

splendor.’GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

8 ‘I own the silver, I own the gold.’

Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.

9 “‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out

wholeness and holiness.’ Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.”

10-12 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (again, this was in the second year of Darius), GOD’s Message came to Haggai: “GOD-of-the-Angel-

Armies speaks: Consult the priests for a ruling. If someone carries a piece of sacred meat in his pocket, meat that is set apart for sacrifice on the altar,

and the pocket touches a loaf of bread, a dish of stew, a bottle of wine or oil, or any other food, will these foods be made holy by such contact?”

The priests said, “No.”

13 Then Haggai said, “How about someone who is contaminated by touching a corpse—if that person touches one of these foods, will it be contaminated?”

The priests said, “Yes, it will be contaminated.”

14 Then Haggai said, “‘So, this people is contaminated. Their nation is

contaminated. Everything they do is contaminated. Whatever they do for me is contaminated.’ GOD says so.

15-17 “‘Think back. Before you set out to lay the first foundation stones for the

rebuilding of my Temple, how did it go with you? Isn’t it true that your foot-dragging, halfhearted efforts at rebuilding the Temple of GOD were reflected

in a sluggish, halfway return on your crops—half the grain you were used to getting, half the wine? I hit you with drought and blight and hail. Everything

you were doing got hit. But it didn’t seem to faze you. You continued to ignore me.’GOD’s Decree.

18-19 “‘Now think ahead from this same date—this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Think ahead from when the Temple rebuilding was launched.

Has anything in your fields—vine, fig tree, pomegranate, olive tree—failed to flourish? From now on you can count on a blessing.’”

20-21 GOD’s Message came a second time to Haggai on that most memorable

day, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month: “Speak to Zerubbabel, the

governor of Judah:

21-23 “‘I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom—overthrow governments, destroy foreign

powers, dismantle the world of weapons and armaments, throw armies into confusion, so that they end up killing one another. And on that day’”—this

is GOD’s Message—“‘I will take you, O Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, as my personal servant and I will set you as a signet ring, the sign of my sovereign

presence and authority. I’ve looked over the field and chosen you for this work.’” The Message of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.

1 1-4 In the eighth month of the second year in the reign of Darius, GOD’s

Message came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: “GOD was very angry with your ancestors. So give to the people this

Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: ‘Come back to me and I’ll come back to you. Don’t be like your parents. The old-time prophets called out to

them, “A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: Leave your evil life. Quit your evil practices.” But they ignored everything I said to them, stubbornly

refused to listen.’

5-6 “And where are your ancestors now? Dead and buried. And the prophets

who preached to them? Also dead and buried. But the Message that my servants the prophets spoke, that isn’t dead and buried. That Message did

its work on your ancestors, did it not? It woke them up and they came back,

saying, ‘He did what he said he would do, sure enough. We didn’t get by

with a thing.’”

First Vision: Four Riders

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month in the second year of the

reign of Darius, the Message of GOD was given to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:

8 One night I looked out and saw a man astride a red horse. He was in the

shadows in a grove of birches. Behind him were more horses—a red, a chestnut, and a white.

9 I said, “Sir, what are these horses doing here? What’s the meaning of this?”

The Angel-Messenger said, “Let me show you.”

10 Then the rider in the birch grove spoke up, “These are the riders that GOD sent to check things out on earth.”

11 They reported their findings to the Angel of GOD in the birch grove: “We have looked over the whole earth and all is well. Everything’s under control.”

12 The Angel of GOD reported back, “O GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, how long

are you going to stay angry with Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? When are you going to let up? Isn’t seventy years long enough?”

13-15 GOD reassured the Angel-Messenger—good words, comforting words—who then addressed me: “Tell them this. Tell them that GOD-of-the-Angel-

Armies has spoken. This is GOD’s Message: ‘I care deeply for Jerusalem and Zion. I feel very possessive of them. But I’m thoroughly angry with the

godless nations that act as if they own the whole world. I was only moderately angry earlier, but now they’ve gone too far. I’m going into

action.

16-17 “‘I’ve come back to Jerusalem, but with compassion this time.’

This is GOD speaking. ‘I’ll see to it that my Temple is rebuilt.’

A Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies! ‘The rebuilding operation is already staked out.’

Say it again—a Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: ‘My cities will prosper again,

GOD will comfort Zion again, Jerusalem will be back in my favor again.’”

Second Vision: Four Horns and Four Blacksmiths

18 I looked up, and was surprised by another vision: four horns!

19 I asked the Messenger-Angel, “And what’s the meaning of this?”

He said, “These are the powers that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem abroad.”

20 Then GOD expanded the vision to include four blacksmiths.

21 I asked, “And what are these all about?”

He said, “Since the ‘horns’ scattered Judah so badly that no one had any hope left, these blacksmiths have arrived to combat the horns. They’ll

dehorn the godless nations who used their horns to scatter Judah to the four winds.”

Third Vision: The Man with the Tape Measure

2 1-5 I looked up and was surprised to see

a man holding a tape measure in his hand. I said, “What are you up to?”

“I’m on my way,” he said, “to survey Jerusalem, to measure its width and length.”

Just then the Messenger-Angel on his way out met another angel coming in and said,

“Run! Tell the Surveyor, ‘Jerusalem will burst its walls—

bursting with people, bursting with animals. And I’ll be right there with her’—GOD’s Decree—‘a wall of fire

around unwalled Jerusalem and a radiant presence within.’” 6-7 “Up on your feet! Get out of there—and now!” GOD says so.

“Return from your far exile. I scattered you to the four winds.” GOD’s Decree.

“Escape from Babylon, Zion, and come home—now!”

8-9 GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, the One of Glory who sent me on my mission,

commenting on the godless nations who stripped you and left you homeless, said, “Anyone who hits you, hits me—bloodies my nose, blackens my eye.

Yes, and at the right time I’ll give the signal and they’ll be stripped and thrown out by their own servants.” Then you’ll know for sure that GOD-of-

the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission.

10 “Shout and celebrate, Daughter of Zion!

I’m on my way. I’m moving into your neighborhood!” GOD’s Decree.

11-12 Many godless nations will be linked up with GOD at that time. (“They will become my family! I’ll live in their homes!”) And then you’ll know for sure

that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission. GOD will reclaim his Judah inheritance in the Holy Land. He’ll again make clear that Jerusalem is

his choice.

13 Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before GOD. Something’s afoot in his holy house. He’s on the move!

Fourth Vision: Joshua’s New Clothes

3 1-2 Next the Messenger-Angel showed me the high priest Joshua. He was

standing before GOD’s Angel where the Accuser showed up to accuse him. Then GOD said to the Accuser, “I, GOD, rebuke you, Accuser! I rebuke you

and choose Jerusalem. Surprise! Everything is going up in flames, but I reach in and pull out Jerusalem!”

3-4 Joshua, standing before the angel, was dressed in dirty clothes. The angel spoke to his attendants, “Get him out of those filthy clothes,” and then said

to Joshua, “Look, I’ve stripped you of your sin and dressed you up in clean clothes.”

5 I spoke up and said, “How about a clean new turban for his head also?” And

they did it—put a clean new turban on his head. Then they finished dressing

him, with GOD’s Angel looking on.

6-7 GOD’s Angel then charged Joshua, “Orders from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: ‘If you live the way I tell you and remain obedient in my service, then you’ll

make the decisions around here and oversee my affairs. And all my attendants standing here will be at your service.

8-9 “‘Careful, High Priest Joshua—both you and your friends sitting here with you, for your friends are in on this, too! Here’s what I’m doing next: I’m

introducing my servant Branch. And note this: This stone that I’m placing before Joshua, a single stone with seven eyes’—Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-

Armies—‘I’ll engrave with these words: “I’ll strip this land of its filthy sin, all at once, in a single day.”

10 “‘At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits

across the fence, friendly visits on one another’s porches.’”

Fifth Vision: A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees

4 The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being

wakened out of deep sleep.

2-3 He said, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive

trees, one on either side of the bowl.”

4 Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, “What does this mean, sir?”

5-7 The Messenger-Angel said, “Can’t you tell?”

“No, sir,” I said.

Then he said, “This is GOD’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these

things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says GOD-of-the-Angel-

Armies. ‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place,

accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’”

8-10 After that, the Word of GOD came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that GOD-

of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel

setting the last stone in place!”

Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are

the eyes of GOD probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”

11-12 And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?” I asked. “What’s the meaning of them? And while you’re at it, the two branches of

the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?”

13 He said, “You haven’t figured that out?”

I said, “No, sir.”

14 He said, “These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide.”

Sixth Vision: The Flying Book

5 I looked up again and saw—surprise!—a book on the wing! A book flying!

2 The Messenger-Angel said to me, “What do you see now?”

I said, “I see a book flying, a huge book—thirty feet long and fifteen wide!”

3-4 He told me, “This book is the verdict going out worldwide against thieves

and liars. The first half of the book disposes of everyone who steals; the second half takes care of everyone who lies. I launched it”—Decree of GOD-

of-the-Angel-Armies—“and so it will fly into the house of every thief and every liar. It will land in each house and tear it down, timbers and stones.”

Seventh Vision: A Woman in a Basket

5 The Messenger-Angel appeared and said, “Look up. Tell me what you see.”

6 I said, “What in the world is that?”

He said, “This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone,

everywhere.”

7 Then the lid made of lead was removed from the basket—and there was a woman sitting in it!

8 He said, “This is Miss Wicked.” He pushed her back down into the basket

and clamped the lead lid over her.

9 Then I looked up and to my surprise saw two women flying. On

outstretched wings they airlifted the bushel basket into the sky.

10 I said to the Messenger-Angel, “Where are they taking the bushel basket?”

11 He said, “East to the land of Shinar. They will build a garage to house it.

When it’s finished, the basket will be stored there.”

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

6 Once again I looked up—another strange sight! Four chariots charging out

from between two mountains. The mountains were bronze.

2-3 The first chariot was drawn by red horses, the second chariot by black

horses, the third chariot by white horses, and the fourth chariot by dappled horses. All the horses were powerful.

4 I asked the Messenger-Angel, “Sir, what’s the meaning here?”

5-7 The angel answered, “These are the four winds of heaven, which originate

with the Master of the whole earth. The black horses are headed north with the white ones right after them. The dappled horses are headed south.” The

powerful horses galloped out, bursting with energy, eager to patrol through the earth. The Messenger-Angel commanded: “On your way! Survey the

earth!” and they were off in every direction.

8 Then he called to me and said, “Look at them go! The ones going north are

conveying a sense of my Spirit, serene and secure. No more trouble from that direction.”

A Man Named Branch

9-12 Then this Message from GOD came to me: “Take up a collection from the exiles. Target Heldai, Tobiah, and Jedaiah. They’ve just arrived from

Babylon. You’ll find them at the home of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Collect silver and gold from them and fashion crowns. Place one on the head of

Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and give him this message:

12-13 “‘A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. Be alert. We have a man here whose name is Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build

the Temple of GOD. Yes, he’s the one. He’ll build the Temple of GOD. Then

he’ll assume the role of royalty, take his place on the throne and rule—a priest sitting on the throne!—showing that king and priest can coexist in

harmony.’

14 “The other crown will be in the Temple of GOD as a symbol of royalty, under the custodial care of Helem, Tobiah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of

Zephaniah.

15 “People will come from faraway places to pitch in and rebuild the Temple

of GOD. This will confirm that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies did, in fact, send me to you. All this follows as you put your minds to a life of responsive

obedience to the voice of your GOD.”

“You’re Interested in Religion, I’m Interested in People”

7 On the fourth day of the ninth month, in the fourth year of the reign of

King Darius, GOD’s Message again came to Zechariah.

2-3 The town of Bethel had sent a delegation headed by Sarezer and Regem-

Melech to pray for GOD’s blessing and to confer with the priests of the

Temple of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, and also with the prophets. They posed

this question: “Should we plan for a day of mourning and abstinence next August, the seventieth anniversary of Jerusalem’s fall, as we have been

doing all these years?”

4-6 GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: “When you held days of fasting every fifth and

seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You’re interested in religion, I’m

interested in people.

7-10 “There’s nothing new to say on the subject. Don’t you still have the

message of the earlier prophets from the time when Jerusalem was still a thriving, bustling city and the outlying countryside, the Negev and

Shephelah, was populated? [This is the message that GOD gave Zechariah.] Well, the message hasn’t changed. GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said then and

says now:

“‘Treat one another justly.

Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other.

Don’t take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don’t plot and scheme against one another—that’s evil.’

11-13 “But did your ancestors listen? No, they set their jaws in defiance. They shut their ears. They steeled themselves against GOD’s revelation and the

Spirit-filled sermons preached by the earlier prophets by order of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. And GOD became angry, really angry, because he told

them everything plainly and they wouldn’t listen to a word he said.

13-14 “So [this is what GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said] if they won’t listen to

me, I won’t listen to them. I scattered them to the four winds. They ended up strangers wherever they were. Their ‘promised land’ became a vacant

lot—weeds and tin cans and thistles. Not a sign of life. They turned a dreamland into a wasteland.”

Rebuilding the Temple

8 1-2 And then these Messages from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“I am zealous for Zion—I care! I’m angry about Zion—I’m involved!”

GOD’s Message:

3 “I’ve come back to Zion,

I’ve moved back to Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s new names will be Truth City,

and Mountain of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, and Mount Holiness.”

4-5 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“Old men and old women will come back to Jerusalem, sit on benches on the

streets and spin tales, move around safely with their canes—a good city to grow old in. And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and

playing—a good city to grow up in.”

6 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“Do the problems of returning and rebuilding by just a few survivors seem

too much? But is anything too much for me? Not if I have my say.”

7-8 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“I’ll collect my people from countries to the east and countries to the west.

I’ll bring them back and move them into Jerusalem. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God. I’ll stick with them and do right by them.”

9-10 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“Get a grip on things. Hold tight, you who are listening to what I say through

the preaching of the prophets. The Temple of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies has

been reestablished. The Temple is being rebuilt. We’ve come through a hard time: You worked for a pittance and were lucky to get that; the streets were

dangerous; you could never let down your guard; I had turned the world into an armed camp.

11-12 “But things have changed. I’m taking the side of my core of surviving

people:

Sowing and harvesting will resume,

Vines will grow grapes, Gardens will flourish,

Dew and rain will make everything green.

12-13 “My core survivors will get everything they need—and more. You’ve

gotten a reputation as a bad-news people, you people of Judah and Israel,

but I’m coming to save you. From now on, you’re the good-news people.

Don’t be afraid. Keep a firm grip on what I’m doing.”

Keep Your Lives Simple and Honest

14-17 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“In the same way that I decided to punish you when your ancestors made

me angry, and didn’t pull my punches, at this time I’ve decided to bless Jerusalem and the country of Judah. Don’t be afraid. And now here’s what I

want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don’t cook up

plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don’t do or say what isn’t so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest.” Decree of GOD.

18-19 Again I received a Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“The days of mourning set for the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will be turned into days of feasting for Judah—celebration and holiday.

Embrace truth! Love peace!”

20-21 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“People and their leaders will come from all over to see what’s going on. The

leaders will confer with one another: ‘Shouldn’t we try to get in on this? Get in on GOD’s blessings? Pray to GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies? What’s keeping us?

Let’s go!’

22 “Lots of people, powerful nations—they’ll come to Jerusalem looking for

what they can get from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, looking to get a blessing from GOD.”

23 A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, ‘Let us go with you. We’ve heard that God is

with you.’”

The Whole World Has Its Eyes on God

9 1-6 War Bulletin:

GOD’s Message challenges the country of Hadrach. It will settle on Damascus.

The whole world has its eyes on GOD.

Israel isn’t the only one. That includes Hamath at the border,

and Tyre and Sidon, clever as they think they are. Tyre has put together quite a kingdom for herself;

she has stacked up silver like cordwood, piled gold high as haystacks.

But God will certainly bankrupt her; he will dump all that wealth into the ocean

and burn up what’s left in a big fire. Ashkelon will see it and panic,

Gaza will wring its hands, Ekron will face a dead end.

Gaza’s king will die. Ashkelon will be emptied out,

And a villain will take over in Ashdod. 6-8 “I’ll take proud Philistia down a peg: I’ll make him spit out his bloody booty

and abandon his vile ways.” What’s left will be all God’s—a core of survivors,

a family brought together in Judah— But enemies like Ekron will go the way of the Jebusites,

into the dustbin of history. “I will set up camp in my home country

and defend it against invaders. Nobody is going to hurt my people ever again.

I’m keeping my eye on them.

A Humble King Riding a Donkey

9-10 “Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion!

Raise the roof, Daughter Jerusalem! Your king is coming!

a good king who makes all things right, a humble king riding a donkey,

a mere colt of a donkey.

I’ve had it with war—no more chariots in Ephraim, no more war horses in Jerusalem,

no more swords and spears, bows and arrows. He will offer peace to the nations,

a peaceful rule worldwide, from the four winds to the seven seas. 11-13 “And you, because of my blood covenant with you, I’ll release your prisoners from their hopeless cells.

Come home, hope-filled prisoners!

This very day I’m declaring a double bonus— everything you lost returned twice-over!

Judah is now my weapon, the bow I’ll pull, setting Ephraim as an arrow to the string.

I’ll wake up your sons, O Zion, to counter your sons, O Greece.

From now on people are my swords.” 14-17 Then GOD will come into view, his arrows flashing like lightning!

Master GOD will blast his trumpet and set out in a whirlwind.

GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies will protect them— all-out war,

The war to end all wars,

no holds barred. Their GOD will save the day. He’ll rescue them.

They’ll become like sheep, gentle and soft, Or like gemstones in a crown,

catching all the colors of the sun. Then how they’ll shine! shimmer! glow!

the young men robust, the young women lovely!

God’s Work of Rebuilding

10 Pray to GOD for rain—it’s time for the spring rain—

to GOD, the rainmaker,

Spring thunderstorm maker, maker of grain and barley. 2-3 “Store-bought gods babble gibberish. Religious experts spout rubbish.

They pontificate hot air. Their prescriptions are nothing but smoke.

And so the people wander like lost sheep, poor lost sheep without a shepherd.

I’m furious with the so-called shepherds. They’re worse than billy goats, and I’ll treat them like goats.” 3-5 GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in

and take care of his flock, the people of Judah. He’ll revive their spirits,

make them proud to be on God’s side. God will use them in his work of rebuilding,

use them as foundations and pillars,

Use them as tools and instruments,

use them to oversee his work. They’ll be a workforce to be proud of, working as one,

their heads held high, striding through swamps and mud, Courageous and vigorous because GOD is with them,

undeterred by the world’s thugs. 6-12 “I’ll put muscle in the people of Judah;

I’ll save the people of Joseph. I know their pain and will make them good as new.

They’ll get a fresh start, as if nothing had ever happened. And why? Because I am their very own GOD,

I’ll do what needs to be done for them. The people of Ephraim will be famous,

their lives brimming with joy. Their children will get in on it, too—

oh, let them feel blessed by GOD!

I’ll whistle and they’ll all come running. I’ve set them free—oh, how they’ll flourish!

Even though I scattered them to the far corners of earth, they’ll remember me in the faraway places.

They’ll keep the story alive in their children, and they will come back.

I’ll bring them back from the Egyptian west and round them up from the Assyrian east.

I’ll bring them back to sweet Gilead, back to leafy Lebanon.

Every square foot of land will be marked by homecoming.

They’ll sail through troubled seas, brush aside brash ocean waves. Roaring rivers will turn to a trickle.

Gaudy Assyria will be stripped bare,

bully Egypt exposed as a fraud. But my people—oh, I’ll make them strong, GOD-strong!

and they’ll live my way.” GOD says so!